Fareed speaks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev about Russia’s recent decision to ban adoptions of Russian children by U.S. parents. For the full interview watch "Fareed Zakaria GPS," this Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET on CNN.

Medvedev: We should take all the necessary decisions so that there would be no orphans in Russia itself. The U.S. does not have such a problem? Many European countries do not have this problem? We have a good society already and we have people who are well off enough, they are able to give food and shelter to our children. This is the reason behind the decisions we have made.

Zakaria:But you could encourage Russians to adopt orphans and handicapped orphans. You could provide them with incentives. Why ban foreigners from doing it, because if the culture in Russia does not change – and cultures don't change in 2 to 3 years – you will have a generation of orphans who have been punished for no fault of their own.

Well, there is another side to this issue, which is rather complex; I would not like to speculate on this matter. But still, I have to mention it. Unfortunately, the information which we believe about the fate of Russian children adopted in the United States does not make anyone happy.

Meaning what? Explain what that means.

I will explain. A large number of American families who adopted Russian children really provide the correct care, upbringing and education. And in that case, they get high marks. This is the highly moral attitude. But unfortunately, in our country we know a lot of cases when children adopted by American parents died or were tortured or lost their health in the U.S., and even one such case would be enough to suggest the draft of a law for consideration.

Are there documented cases that you have about this?

Of course. These cases, all the cases maybe they don't reach you. All these cases have been described on Russian TV and the Internet, even.

soundoff(57 Responses)

Sroz

And of course, Dmitry, we believe everything we see on TV and on the internet! If Russia was open, we'd be hearing a lot of these cases in Russia. Russian orphanages are extremely inadequate, children are not properly cared for. Russia will be raising a generation of sociopaths. Between the mistreatment of children in Russian orphanages and the go-ahead that Russia gave Seria to kill its own people, including thousands of children, Dmitry and his fellow "leaders" are not exactly champions of little children.

You need to read about the requirements and procedures from countries, theyare different about ages you can adopt, cost, waiting time, etc. There is a reason why american want to adopt from russia and it is becausethe love for thecountry andhis people. I adopted 5 children from russia and I'm really proud ofthem and do my best to teach them about russia as well as other countries. Butrussia is where they came from and it is the predominence. The last 2 were not toddlersand we are learning the russian language, we are making sure to entertain them with songs and educative russiantyoutube video. There is many things we do and celebrate to keep them bound withrussia. That's what we told the judges and by respect tothe country that created a beautiful family, we are doing amazing. The number 19murderers/deaths is really bad, even 1 is bad, even an abuse is bad. But in the other hands, more than 50k is good.

January 27, 2013 at 7:54 am |

ffc

I have traveled to Moscow and St Petersburg to adopt children, and the care there was acceptable. However, when you leave European Russia and into Siberia and Tatanstan the care is not very good.

We traveled to Russia because we wanted to save a life – and there are limited opportunities to adopt in the USA.

1,000,000 or so Russian orphanes waiting for a home.

You really have to be a fool to believe Americans do not provide good homes to these children. American parents provide many opportunites for their adoptive children. Most of these children will grow up with privledges that very, very few have in Russia.

Even in the geneal population of the United States there rare instance of neglect of children. As if nothing bad ever happens in Russia. Most of the country is depressed and starving. Crime is everywhere.

Russia isolates itself and will never be truely prosperous. They break rules and treaties and wonder why they can not attract foreign investment.

January 28, 2013 at 11:31 am |

Bill

I find Russians accusing American parents of being inadequate and under danger amusing. There are thousands of safe children who have been adopted by American parents. Every population has its nuts, and there will always be a few examples that you can cherry pick to try to make a point. The reality is that those examples are few and far between. As for Russia, there may be as many as 700K orphans who are "at risk" and not cared for. Russia has one of the highest levels of orphaned children in the world, and the highest for a nation with a significant amount of wealth. It is a joke, with the condition of children in Russia, that they point figures at American parents who want to take these unfortunate children to better lives. The onlly ones who will suffer due to Russia politics are their own children.

January 30, 2013 at 2:15 pm |

j. von hettlingen

There's nothing wrong with Russia wanting to provide for its orphans. Some Russian families do adopt them, but they can cherry-pick and find the best lot, leaving those behind, who suffer from physical or mental disabilities. Foreign adoption would be the only chance for them to flee the tristful life of an orphanage.

Ordinary Russian orphans are now to bear the brunt of international politics. Let me tell the Russian President that those kids he is denying their freedom are the generation that would spit on his grave. Time would tell.

What cannot be argued by anyone in any country is the fact that American families are the ONLY families who are willing to adopt Russian orphans with severe disabilities including Downs Syndrome, children with HIV+ diagnosises, children with Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus, etc. Russian families absolutely will not adopt a child with these conditions, Italy, Spain and France also will not. America adopted over 900 children in 2011 and approximately 1/3 of those children had severe disabilities. Now that Americans cannot adopt from Russia these children absolutely will perish in their orphanages, even if others countries did step in for these and {they wont} the health care in Russia cannot offer the level of care they need, it just is not availabe there, SO FOR THESE CHILDREN THE BAN IS A DEATH SENTENCE. NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT. GOOD WORK AMERICA AND RUSSIA YOU JUST KILLED THE MOST VULNERABLE KIDS ON EARTH WITH THE SWIPE OF YOUR LAW WRITING PENS.

You're wrong – of the 1000 Russian-born kids adopted by Americans per year, only 40-50 have disabilities.

Would you happen to be Rebecca Preece, of Reece's Rainbow? The ethically-challenged adoption "ministry" that blatantly violates Russian law by illegally photolisting Russian kids and illegally encouraging folks such as yourself to adopt them??

But don't take MY word for it – Susan Jackson of Hand In Hand adoptions (she's their Russia program director) explains it so very clearly:
http://theadoptionspotlight.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/reeces-rainbow-the-trouble-in-saint-petersburg-email-from-hand-in-hand/

Never mind this troll there. That blog is just meant for cyberbullying.

May 23, 2013 at 11:52 am |

Rebecca

Oh and P.S. folks America does not commit human rights violations, its only considered a human rights violation if another country is doing it, if it's America it's okay. ONLY America gets a free pass for human rights violations, nobody else.

Clearly you cannot give anything close to your name bluejuliej because your a liar. The numbers I gave actually come from Russian authorities themselves. But thanks for pointing out that you think the 40- 50 children you have falsely reported should go ahead and stay in Russia and die. If one child dies in an orphanage that could have been saved by an American family it's one too many. But hey, it's all about you bluejuliej being right, huh?

You're the one who chose to:
– break Russian law by illegally pre-selecting a child who was illegally photolisted on Reece's Rainbow to adopt
– posted photos and private medical info regarding Gabriel (who is not yet legally your son until the adoption decree is in your hand - he's still your REFERRAL right now) on your blog. You care so little for this child that violating HIS privacy and dignity is OK?

Any given Russian orphan's options are NOT limited to be adopted by an American or die young. Kids (even disabled ones) are adopted domestically, reunited with their birth or extended families, go into foster care, go into an SOS Children's Village, be adopted by a Canadian or European family.

Rebecca, because YOU support Reeces Rainbow's illegal photolistings and refused to submit a dossier to the MOE in order to receive a referral (you know, the way Russian law dictates you to do)... the ban may never be lifted. You'll get your boy home, but THOUSANDS of Russian orphans will languish in orphanages rather than thrive in American homes because you think you're sooooo special that the Russian law shouldn't apply to YOUR adoption!

You should also realize that within your one statement you didn't make any snese Julie you stated I was with an adoption agency then also stated I was someone adopting myself? You make no sense, think before you comment or go to the FOX news page where the rest of the idiots are.

Here's an explanation of why photolisting Russian orphans is illegal according to Russian law:
http://www.reformtalk.net/2012/01/16/public-service-announcement-on-photolistings-and-photos-and-ukraine-preselection-mediation-and-pensions-updated/

Here's Rebecca's blog:
Preecefamilyadoption.blogspot.com

(Isn't her little REFERRAL Gabe adorable?).

Reece's Rainbow has behaved unethically in Serbian adoptions too. But don't take my word for it –Leah Spring adopted her first child via a corrupt RR-affiliated facilitator (who was later convicted; Leah flew back to Serbia several months later at the Serbian Govts request to testify against her:
http://serbianadoption.blogspot.com/2012/07/serbian-process.html?m=1

As I said before NO Russian adopts a disabled orphan, doesn't happen EVER. Also they only foster children to recieve momey every month, we have the exact same system here, it's very broken, the only people who foster do it for the money, if they cared about the children they would go ahead and adopt them, fostering a child only stalls them finding a true family.

I wonder where you take information of this kind. I know at least five families here in Russia who adopted children with severe health problems from orphanages and the money had not place at all on the list of their motivations. The problem is in the steretypes about the Russians that the media in the West have been hammering into people's heads for decades.

Failed to mention two points from Rebecca above.
Yes Russians have adopted special needs children. So I do know this is not my wife.
"The only people who foster do it for the money". Sadly I'm sure some do, those i cannot talk for. Those that We know personally do not. That is backed by friends, neighbors and even family in those positions. . I know that comment was not written by my wife.

Interesting the first post that I did never showed up.
I am setting the record straight on this.
The 'Rebecca' on here is not Rebecca Preece.
The comments and grammar are not the way she writes or expresses herself.
The tip off to me was the name calling. She does not do that ever. The kids are not allowed one bit to do that. So I know that is not her.
Whom ever is 'Rebecca' on here. I can not stop you from posting. Please refrain from pretending to be the one adopting Gabe. Your not.

Another question based on things I've read and seen so may not be accurate:

WHY are Russian kids being killed 'so much' more than other adoptees? and by Americans?

It seems that 19 kids out of 60000 have been killed/abused by American's adopting Russia. How many out of how many potential Russian kids are killed/abused in other countries? How many adopted kids from China or Ethiopia or Haiti or other countries are being killed/abused in America?

The stories all make it seem like 0 kids are killed/abused in non-Russianorphan cases and that Russia in particular are problem in US. This could be the case. Outside of Russian parents adopting Russian kids and American adopting American kids (because in country I think would be highest potential abuse for any country due to number of people who might try) ARE American's more likely to harm their Russian children.

If so then why? If American's kill/abuse mostly Russian child adoptees and not other countries then they do need to ban us.

I dont know the specifics of other countries...but this is what it was just in Russia, taken from a speech.

"In 2011, Russian citizens adopted 7,416 children, foreign – 3400. While in this country died in foster care 1220 the adoption of Russian children by citizens for 15 years, and in the United States – 19."

Hmmm, I don't see my first question. So briefly since previous was long winded.

Would Russia be willing to accept aid for particular kids or conditions or improvements: kind of like several African nations (for medical procedures, equipment for orphanages/orphans, schooling etc...).

Because I adopted to be a parent to a child who I wanted to be as healthy as possible. I would not have adopted to save a child because I probably couldn't parent the child who was most in need to be saved. I spent $20,000 plus bucks and other spend way more. Russian's orphan 'situation' will not be solved in 2-3 years as noted in interview but 20,000 to one orphanage (staff training, equipment, etc...) would do a lot more for more kids than to adopt 1 child.

Excellent interview. I watched. To speak of corruption in Russia is a joke-a pot calling a kettle black. The people pushing for confrontation with Russia are the same people that would like to have a free reign in their politics. Unfortunately children became a pawn. What if Mr. Medviedev was less polite and said we will make a list of individuals in the US who commited war crimes or we will reveal who is behind 9/11 and Bengazi to the American public ? . Maybe even who killed Kennedy ?

What bothers me is that the minister does not cite his sources about what is exactly going on. Just like Putin the US government has no control on what goes on in the private sector of family life. Those parents who do abuse Russian adoptees should be held accountable through the International Criminal Court (ICC) since it is dealing with Russian minors. Also it is not just Russian adoptees children that have mental health or disabilities that are being abused in the US,

We cannot talk about mental health in this country because it is taboo or GOD forbid taking care of people with mental health issues is Socialism . Trust me I would know I have Autism and have barely got through life going for a masters degree. Luckily my parent were not abusive but the education system and healthcare system was very much so.

Talking about children, US and Somalia are the only two UN countries that did not ratify UN universal declaration on children's rights. Talking about children with disabilities, US congress recently refused to ratify UN declaration on rights of people with disabilities, spearheaded by want-to-be-president Rick Santorum. I rest my case.

I personally would not compare U.S to russia, china, iran, venezuela or any middle east country. Yes, america has pretty awful president like W. Bush but they have also had great politicians in the past who created great national policy to move their country forward. Those policies have made our world much smaller. Adoption ban is stupid.

The percentage of children being adopted by the U.S compared to how many orphaned children in Russia is very small. Why are there so many orphaned children in Russia? Is the orphan problem growing or shrinking there. RT-News is so busy reporting U.S. news it don't have time to report on what is going on in Russia. Oh that's right, Russian controlled media only report on what there told.

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The Global Public Square is where you can make sense of the world every day with insights and explanations from CNN's Fareed Zakaria, leading journalists at CNN, and other international thinkers. Join GPS editor Jason Miks and get informed about global issues, exposed to unique stories, and engaged with diverse and original perspectives.